The Haken thread v. Restoration

[ariich]

UPDATE: This thread was started a long time ago, back when only the demo had been recorded. See later in the thread for more recent news/discussion.

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So I had a thread about this band before the implosion so obviously it is no longer, so I figured I might as well start a new one as there are exciting updates!

If anyone hasn't checked them out at all yet, they're a prog-metal band with an incredibly diverse range of influences including some styles that you'd never expect to hear in a metal song. Check out some of the stuff on their myspace: https://www.myspace.com/hakenmusic

Their 6-track demo in full quality (as the myspace versions of things either sound crap or are cut short/start half way through) is available to purchase with links on the myspace too, but the exciting news is that they have confirmed that they are working on a debut album which should be out early next year! See this post at 5/8 from Ray (the drummer):

Hello all!

This is Ray from HAKEN

Please try and keep this thread live. Olaf's... i mean 'pulsefloyd' () is doing a great job! Arrich, where did you go?!

Just to let you know we're still working hard, Charlie has slotted in perfectly and Diego (our new man on keys alongside Hen) is doing an incredible job.

We're working on our debut album which should see an official release early in the new year. It seems far away now, but trust me it'll be worth the wait.
We're all very excited about the progress we're making and we should get a couple of gigs in during the next month or two before I enter the studio at the end of July to lay down the drums.

That's all folks! Cheers for listening!

Ray
HAKEN

Oh, and rather excitingly, the 2nd issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog (for anyone who's been managing to get hold of it) has a Haken track on the CD that comes with it!

[InTheNameOfGod]

Wow these guys become popular, fast.

I remember being their friends on Myspace when they had less than 100 adds.

I always thought they had it in them to create some great music. Good stuff.

I'll check out that EP of theirs.

[hefdaddy42]

These guys are great.

[faemir]

Finally a full album where we can see their talent for a good hour

[ariich]

Well, the six-track demo is about an hour long, it's just that the production is all self-done, so while in ways it sounds great, it's not really professional standard. For me that's the most exciting thing!

Plus I've heard some of the new music live and it is amazing!

[Crow]

All the tracks on the demo are great. Snow is of course the best by far but Manifolds, Blind, Sleeping Thoughts Wake, Souls, and Black Seed are all great as well.

There's really potential in these guys for something even greater though. Some of the songs have typical prog cheesiness that I'd like to see removed (Blind's carnival-sounding solos come to mind). I guess since this is only a demo I can't get too critical yet, though 

[ariich]

Actually the stuff in Blind is the one I mind the least. It starts cheesy, but when the big guitar chords come in it actually gets kinda dark and sinister, almost Devin Townsend-esque.

The calypso/electronica bit in STW is fairly cheesy, but it kinda works as well, and I like that fact that they manage to incorporate such eclectic styles of music into their songs, more so that pretty much any other metal bands at the moment.

The only thing I'm not so keen on is the "La la la" bit in Snow. The rest of that section is awesome old-school prog, but that singing is so horrifically cheesy.

[faemir]

It'll be nice to see Haken really moving forward from small time band to something bigger (hopefully). Especially after I saw a similar situation that failed. Why should talented local bands fail while half the crap on the radio doesn't deserve that attention 

[skydivingninja]

It'll be nice to see Haken really moving forward from small time band to something bigger (hopefully). Especially after I saw a similar situation that failed. Why should talented local bands fail while half the crap on the radio doesn't deserve that attention 

Because the crap on the radio isn't prog while local bands like Haken are.

[ariich]

It'll be nice to see Haken really moving forward from small time band to something bigger (hopefully). Especially after I saw a similar situation that failed. Why should talented local bands fail while half the crap on the radio doesn't deserve that attention 

Yeah I know what you mean. Fortunately I think Haken, while being at times very heavy, at times very complex and at times downright bizarre, still have a really good sense of melody and harmony, which makes the music surprisingly accessible. Hopefully that'll work in their favour.

[pneumothorax]

/necros thread

These guys are really good.  I can't wait to hear more.  Any more news on when the album is coming out?

[ariich]

Haven't heard any more about it, still planned for next year sometime though.

After the DT gig in Leeds a couple of weeks ago, myself and my brother (Haken's former keyboardist) joined Ray (Haken's drummer) in giving out free copies of Haken's demo to people to try and get the word around a bit. When we said "free CD!" people didn't seem all that interested, but for some reason when my brother started saying "progressive jazz fusion" people were grabbing them instantly! Genuinely no idea why

Anyway I'll ask Ray for an update next time I see him.

[pneumothorax]

Out of curiosity, how do you pronounce the band name and where did they come up with it?

[ariich]

Hay-ken. (or "Hey, Ken!" )

Originally it was Haaken I think, dunno why they changed it. Apparently it means "of the chosen" in some language or other.

[ariich]

Hell yes.

Photos from recording sessions on their myspace: https://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=81139156&albumId=3039631

Album should be coming out in January.

[faemir]

Finally, been waiting for some new material from these guys!

[ariich]

Oh hell yes, 6-minute album teaser is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hiz5Vu2treI

They've also updated their myspace with album art etc, looks awesome! Album should be out next month.

[faemir]

Finally, I was worried when January passed without hearing anything.

[Nick]

Cool news, keep us posted.

[Crow]

DO WANT
Definitely getting this as soon it comes out.

[Dr. SeaWolf]

That cover art's actually quite cool.

[TimmyHiggy]

That teaser has me very teased!!

WANT!

[ariich]

That cover art's actually quite cool.

Yeah I'm seriously impressed, wasn't sure what to expect but I think the result is excellent.

[ariich]

Release date will be 29th March in Europe and 30th in the US!

Tracklist:
1. The Point of No Return 11:27
2. Streams 10:14
3. Aquarium 10:40
4. Eternal Rain 6:43
5. Drowning in the Flood 9:28
6. Sun 7:19
7. Celestial Elixir 16:56

It's up for pre-order on Amazon and certainly some other sites in the UK (Play, HMV etc) so I imagine it'll be the case everywhere else as well.

EDIT: Only £8 on play.com!
EDIT 2: $14.99 on Best Buy for any yanks. Though it's rather insultingly classified as pop.

[faemir]

woop, preordered!

[ariich]

Indeed, me too! Having known the band since before they even recorded their first proper demo, this is rather exciting for me!

[pneumothorax]

They've got a song from their new album up!  Sounds awesome.

https://www.myspace.com/hakenmusic

[ariich]

That sounds awesome! Slight change in their sound in this song (slightly more straightforward prog-metal if that makes sense), but still very Haken-y. Ross's vocals have come such a long way in the last couple of years.

So pumped for this album!

[Crow]

The DT influence is more prominent than ever.
Definitely not a bad thing

[ariich]

If anyone wants an mp3 version of the song (called Eternal Rain), the record label have made it available for download on their website: https://www.lasersedgegroup.com/sound.asp

Specific link is: https://www.lasersedgegroup.com/soundfiles/eternalrain.mp3

Enjoy!

[TimmyHiggy]

Well, I just got a message from Amazon stating that there has been a delay in receiving the album from their suppliers. AARGH!

[Crow]

I pre-ordered it from Best Buy so hopefully it comes in soon

[ariich]

Well, I just got a message from Amazon stating that there has been a delay in receiving the album from their suppliers. AARGH!

I haven't received a message from Play, but they haven't shipped it yet so I'm guessing it's the same thing. What a useless record label!

I'm half tempted to buy the mp3s from Play or iTunes (which are available as of today) just so I can start listening while waiting for the damn CD to arrive!

[TimmyHiggy]

I decided to cancel my Amazon order and put in a new one from Play just in case it was a purely amazon reason. That and the fact it was cheaper on play...

[ariich]

Indeed, but it's not amazon, it's the label.

So I caved and bought the mp3s off Play (my brother and I are paying half and half) so we don't have to wait for the label to get their act together!

Listening now, on the first track